(+34) 951 419 212
Known as premature ovarian failure or primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), this is a condition in which the ovaries stop working normally before the age of 40. It affects approximately 1% of the female population and can occur in young women in their 20s, although the incidence of POI is higher among women aged 35 to 40.
The causes of POI can be numerous, but they are not fully understood and are currently the subject of much research. Any factor that reduces the number of eggs in the ovaries can be a cause. It can also occur when there is a normal number of eggs, but the ovaries do not produce enough estrogen. Some of the known causes and risk factors are:
- Autoimmune diseases, for example hypothyroidism.
- Chromosomal conditions such as Turner syndrome or fragile X syndrome.
- Exposure to toxins such as those used in chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
- Infections that affect the ovaries, such as mumps, chickenpox or cytomegalovirus.
- Surgery on the ovaries.
- Hormonal imbalance affecting the hormones that control the ovaries.
What are the symptoms of primary ovarian insufficiency?
Many of the symptoms are the same as those experienced by women in the menopause and perimenopause, and may include:
- Irregular periods or absence of menstruation (amenorrhea)
- Night sweats and hot flushes
- Reduced libido
- Vaginal dryness, which can lead to painful sexual intercourse
- Irritability and difficulty concentrating
- Fertility problems
How can I get pregnant with POI?
Since this condition affects the ovaries and the release of eggs, it is not surprising that most women with POI have infertility problems and turn to assisted reproduction. For some women, who have a normal quantity of eggs but do not release them properly, In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) can be a possibility for achieving a successful pregnancy.
If there are no eggs, or IVF with the patient’s own eggs does not produce the desired result, the next step is to use donor eggs. In egg donation, the eggs come from a young, healthy donor, they are fertilized in the laboratory with the sperm of the male partner (or of a donor if necessary) and the embryos grow and are nourished in a special incubator in the laboratory. When the embryos reach the blastocyst stage, usually about 5 days after fertilization, the best ones are selected and transferred to the patient’s uterus in order to achieve a pregnancy.
Donor eggs can come from a fresh donation cycle, for which it is necessary to coordinate the cycles of the donor and the patient. Alternatively, it is increasingly popular to use frozen donor eggs from an egg bank such as Ovobank. Frozen eggs have more advantages and do not require the patient’s cycle to be synchronized with the donor’s. They are also usually a more economical option.
With Ovobank, you can choose the lot size that suits your needs, and our donor egg lots come with a survival guarantee as standard: if fewer than 50% of your donor egg lot (6 eggs) survive the thawing process, we will send you a mini lot of 3 eggs free, or an additional lot of 6 eggs at half price.
To talk to one of our coordinators about using frozen donor oocytes, or to register and see our wide range of donor profiles, you can get in touch with us in whichever way you prefer:
Europe: +44 1613941303
info@ovobank.com